Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-10
CONTINUED.
xxx.
CONDEMNED 10 pEATE


Half an hour passed in silence, which
was only brokeA by the footsteps Of the
s~entries as they tramped, Orrather loitered,
up and down, or by the occasional fall OF
some ealeined masonry from the walls Of
the burned-Out house. What between the
smell of smoke and dust, the heat of the
sun on the tin roof above, and Of the red
hot embers of the house in front, the little
o where Bessie WAS shut up was almost
~unbearable, and she felt rs though she
should faint there upon the sacks
Thorough one Of the cracks'in the wagon
house wall there blew 3 little draught,
and by this crack Bessie placed herself,
leaning her head against the wall so as to
get the full benefit of the air and command
a view Of the place. Presently, several of
the Beers came into the wagon-house and
proceeded to pull some Of the carts and
timber out Of il, leaving one b~uck-wagOn,
however, placed along the wall on the side
opposite to the crack through which she
was looking. Then they pulled the Scotch
cart over to her side, laughing about some
thing among themselves as they did so,
and arranged it with its hack turned to-
wards the wagon, supporting the shafts
upon q ~wagou-jack. Next, out of the
farther corner of the place, they extracted
An old sawbench and set it at the top of
the open space. Then Bessie understood
what they were doing; they were arranging
a court, and the saw-beneh was the judges
chair. So Frank Muller meant to carry
out his threat
Shortly after this all the Beers, except
those who were keeping guard, filed into
the place and began TO Chamber on the
buck-wagon, seating themselves with
much rough joking In . double row upon
the broad side rails. Next appeared Hans
COetzee, his head bound up in a bloody
handkerchief. He was pale and shaky,
but Bessie could see that he was but little
the worse tor his wound. Then came
Frank Muller himself, looking white and
very terrible, and As he came tine men stop
ped their Joking and talking. Indeed, it
was curious 10 observe how strong was his
~aScendeucy over them. As a rule, the
weak part Of BOer organization is that it is
practically impossible to get n BOer to
pay Difference TO or obey another; but this
was certainly not the case where Frank
Muller was concerned.
Muller advanced without hesitation to
the saw-beueh At the top of the space, and
sat down on 1T, placing his rhe between
his knees. After this there was n pause,
and next minute Bessie saw her old uncle
conducted in by two armed Beers, who
halted in the middle OF the space, about
three PAGES from the Saw-beneh, and stood
one on either side of their prisoner. At
the same time Hans COetzee climbed up
into the Scotch cart, and Muller drew a
notebook and a pencil frSn his pocket.
silence he said I'VE are assembled
here 10 try the Englishman, Silas Croft, by
eourt-matial. The chages against him
are that by word and deed, notably by
continuing TO fly the English dag after the
country had been surrendered TO the re-
public, he has traitOrously rebelled against
the government of the country. Further,
that he hSs attempted to murder q buIgher
of the republic by shooting at him with a
loaded rifle. II these charges are proved
against him he will he liable to death, by
martial law. Prisoner Croft, what do you
answer TO the charges against your"
The old man, who seemed very quiet
and composed, looked up at his judge and
then replied:
Ian an English subject / only defended
nv house after you had murdered one of
my servants. / deny your jurisdiction
over me, aud | refuse TO plead"
IL nT,1lar p,aHa onp,a p,Na, q, III.
poeket-bOOk. aud then said, 81 override
the prisoners objection rs TO the juriSdie-
ton of the court As to the charges, we
will now take evidence. OF the fist charge
no evidence is needed, for We all raw the
flag flying. As Ia She second, Hans COetzee,
the assaulted burgher, will now give evil
dence. Hans COetzee, do YOU swear in the
name Of God and the republic TO speak the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth"
Almighty, yer" answered Hans, from
the cart on which he had enthroned him.
sell, 80 help me, the dear Lord"
''Poceed then"
Il was entering the house of the prisoner
TO arrest him, in obedience to your wor-
shipful commands, when the prisoner lifted
a gun and tired at ME. The bullet from
the gun struck me upon the ear, cutting it
and putting NE TO much pain and loss OF
blood That Is the evidence | have 10
give"
That's right; that is not a lie" said
some of the men on the wagon.
Prisoner. have you any question 10 ask
the witness" said Muller.
II have no question To ask; ! deny your
jurisdiction, " said the old man, with spirit
THE prisoner declines to question the
witness, and again pleads TO the iurisdic-
ton, = plea which / have'Overruled. Gen
tlsmen, do you desire to hear any further
evidence
mo, no."
"'DO you then find the prisoner guilty
OF the charges laid against hm?"
"Yes, ye-,H from the wagon.
Muller made a further note in his book
and then wen On:
Then, the prisoner having been found
guilty Of high-trc1Son and attempted mur-
der, che only matter that remains il the
the question of the punishment required
10 be melted ont by the law TO such wicked
and horrible offences. Every man will
give his verdict having duly considered il
there is any way by which, in accordance
with the holy dictates at his conscience,
aud with the natural prOmptings to pity in
bis heart, he can extend mercy TO the
PisOnes. Aseommandsnt and president of
the cOart the first vote lies with ME; and !
must tell you, getlemen, that 1 feel the
responsibility q very heavy one in the
sight of God and my country; and l must
warn you not to be influenced or OVerruled
by my decision, who Rm, like you, only 3
man. liable to err and be led away"
Hear, hear" SAID the voices on the
wagon, as he paused to note the effect Of
his address.
Gentlemen and burghers Of the state,
my natural promptngs in this case are to-
wSrdS pity. The prisoner Is an old man,
who has lived many years among Us like a
brother. Indeed, he is \ 'yoOrtrekker,'
and, though an EngliShman, one Of the
fathers ofthe laad. Can we condemn such
a one To n bloody grave, more especially as